Marmes Cherry Cheese Bars

by: My Mommy

CRUST

1 1/4 cup Walnut pieces

1 1/4 cup Flour

1/2 cup Brown Sugar, packed

1/2 cup Butter flavored Crisco

1/2 cup Coconut Flakes

Filling

2 pks (8oz ea) Cream Cheese, softened

2/3 cup Sugar

2 Eggs

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 can (21 oz) Cherry Pie Filling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 13x9 pan with butter crisco. Set aside. Coarsely chop 1/2 cup of nuts for topping. Set aside. Chop remaining nuts finely.

FOR CRUST combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter Crisco until fine crumbs form. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts and coconut. mix well. Remove 1/2 cup and set aside. Press remaining crumbs in bottom of the pan. bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 515 minutes until edges are lightly browned.

FOR FILLING  beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, eggs and vanilla in small bowl at medium speed in mixer until smooth. Spread over hot baked crust. Return to oven for 15 more minutes.

Spread cherry pie filling over cheese layer. Combine rserved coarsely chopped nuts and reserved crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over cherries. Return to oven. Bake 15 more minutes. Cool. *Refrigerate for several hours. Cut into 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" squares. *Mom likes to freeze because it makes cutting easier and then she lays each on individually into mini cupcake holders.